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CPU Comparison: FPS, Specs & Value

Core i3-1215U vs Core i5-12600K

The Core i3-1215U is slower than the Core i5-12600K on average across 100+ games. We cannot compare value as at least one CPU is out of stock.

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Is 4 months newer

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Up to 29% faster on average across 100+ games
Available for $289

FPS Comparison Across Popular Games

Predicted average FPS at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, based on real game benchmarks.

Resolution

Quality

Paired GPU

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Fortnite2017

Core i3-1215U

331FPS

Core i5-12600K

331FPS

Escape From Tarkov2017

Core i3-1215U

231FPS

Core i5-12600K

249FPS

Elden Ring2022

Core i3-1215U

158FPS

Core i5-12600K

169FPS

League of Legends2009

Core i3-1215U

269FPS

Core i5-12600K

351FPS

Apex Legends2019

Core i3-1215U

369FPS

Core i5-12600K

380FPS

Valorant2020

Core i3-1215U

639FPS

Core i5-12600K

724FPS

Overwatch 22023

Core i3-1215U

532FPS

Core i5-12600K

554FPS

Grand Theft Auto V2013

Core i3-1215U

211FPS

Core i5-12600K

219FPS

Specs & Benchmark Comparison

Side-by-side specs, synthetic benchmarks, and key hardware differences.

Scorehelp

Core i3-1215U

49%

Core i5-12600K

60%

Core i5-12600K ranks 11 points higher.

Coreshelp

Core i3-1215U

Core i5-12600K

Core i5-12600K has 4 more cores.

Threadshelp

Core i3-1215U

Core i5-12600K

Core i5-12600K has 8 more threads.

L3 Cachehelp

Core i3-1215U

10 MB

Core i5-12600K

20 MB

Core i5-12600K has 10 MB more L3 cache.

Base Frequencyhelp

Core i3-1215U

1.2 GHz

Core i5-12600K

3.7 GHz

Core i5-12600K has a 208% higher base clock.

Turbo Frequencyhelp

Core i3-1215U

4.4 GHz

Core i5-12600K

4.9 GHz

Core i5-12600K boosts 11% higher.

TDPhelp

Core i3-1215U

15W

Core i5-12600K

125W

Core i3-1215U draws 110W less power.

Pricehelp

Core i3-1215U

Core i5-12600K

Core i3-1215UCore i5-12600K

Intel BGA 1744

Sockethelp

LGA1700

Alder Lake-U

Codenamehelp

Alder Lake-S

Mobile

Segmenthelp

Desktop

UHD Graphics 64EU

Integrated GPUhelp

UHD Graphics 770

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

RAMhelp

3200 MHz (DDR4), 4800 MHz (DDR5)

Not Overclockable

Overclock Supporthelp

Overclockable

Frequently Asked Questions

compare_arrowsWhich is better, Core i3-1215U or Core i5-12600K?expand_more

The Core i5-12600K. It's 22% faster than the Core i3-1215U on average across 100+ games, scoring 60/100 vs 49/100 in our gaming rating.

speedHow much faster is Core i5-12600K than Core i3-1215U?expand_more

22% faster on average. The gap varies by game and resolution, check the per-game FPS comparison above.

aspect_ratioWhich is better for 1440p and 4K gaming, Core i3-1215U or Core i5-12600K?expand_more

The Core i5-12600K is faster at both resolutions. Toggle the resolution selector above to see per-game FPS.

paidIs the Core i5-12600K worth buying in 2026?expand_more

It scores 60/100 in our gaming rating, faster than most CPUs on the market. Good buy if the price is right.

differenceWhat is the difference between Core i3-1215U and Core i5-12600K?expand_more

Performance: Core i3-1215U scores 49/100, Core i5-12600K scores 60/100. They also differ in core count, clock speeds, L3 cache, and power draw. Full breakdown in the specs section above.

compressWill the Core i3-1215U or Core i5-12600K bottleneck my PC?expand_more

Depends on the rest of your build, especially your GPU. Swap the paired GPU in the FPS section above to see if it limits performance, or use our bottleneck calculator for a full analysis.

upgradeIs it worth upgrading to the Core i3-1215U or Core i5-12600K?expand_more

The Core i5-12600K is the stronger pick at 60/100. Compare your current CPU against it to see the exact FPS gain across 100+ games.